2026 PCMA Southeast Annual Meeting

About this event

Mark your calendars for the PCMA Southeast Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 , at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, GA !

Join us for an event of celebration, connection, and reflection as we honor the achievements of our chapter and the vibrant community that makes it all possible. This special occasion will include opportunities to network with industry peers, celebrate chapter recognitions, and hear from a inspiring guest speakers.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Location: College Football Hall of Fame

250 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30313

REGISTER HERE

See Who’s Attending

Registration Pricing:

Early Bird In-Person Member Rate — $99

Available to PCMA members through October 15.

General In-Person Rate — $129

Non-members any time; members registering after October 15.

Virtual Registration — $65

Available to both members and non-members at any time.

Exhibitor Table Registration — $175

Includes one highboy table and one complimentary attendee registration.

Space is limited! Register today to save your spot!

Registration Deadlines:

General In-Person Registration and Exhibitor Table Registration

Ends Wednesday, November 4, 5:00pm ET

Virtual Registration

Ends Tuesday, November 10, 5:00pm ET

Program Schedule

10:00 a.m. – Welcome

10:15 a.m. – Keynote Speaker: Tim Altbaum, CMP, CMM, CEO and Co-Founder of Vario Productions

11:00 a.m. – Break

11:15 a.m. – Interactive Session Speaker: Velera Wilson

12:00 p.m. – Lunch & Networking

1:00p.m. – Panel Featuring Atlanta-Area Senior Leaders | The Case for Gathering: What Makes an Event Worth the Investment?

Featured Voices:

Moderator:

– Discover Dunwoody – Mark Galvin , Chief Marketing & Operating Officer

Panel:

– Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau – Charlene Lopez , Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Offices

– Etherio – Christine Hilgert , Executive Vice President

– U.S. Bank – Ambre Wade , CMP, Director, Experiential Marketing

2:00 p.m. – Event Ends – Enjoy your day!

Meet Our Keynote Speaker

Tim Altbaum , CMP, CMM, is the CEO and Co-Founder of Vario Productions , a national event production and creative technology company supporting conferences, meetings, and live experiences across the globe. With a Master’s Degree in Network Security and nearly 30 years of experience in event production, Tim is a frequent industry speaker on production strategy, event technology, and the practical application of AI for meetings and events.

Tim holds the CMP, CMM, CSEP, and HMCC designations and is Past President of the MPI Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter. His sessions equip planners with real-world strategies to confidently navigate AV and venue partnerships, make informed production decisions, and apply emerging technologies to create better event experiences.

Keynote Session Details:

Contract Confidence: What to Know Before You Sign AV, Production, and Venue Agreements

Some of the most important decisions affecting an event happen long before show day. As venue sourcing and production planning become increasingly interconnected, the choices made early in the planning process shape budget, flexibility, and the attendee experience. In this practical session, Tim Altbaum, CMP, CMM, will discuss where planners have the greatest opportunity to influence event outcomes, better understand their production options, and partner effectively with venues, in-house AV teams, and third-party production providers.

Meet Our Interactive Session Speaker

Meet our 2026 Annual Meeting Interactive Session Speaker Velera Wilson , a keynote and TEDx speaker, leadership expert, and Workplace Confidence™ researcher passionate about helping leaders and teams perform at their highest potential.

Interactive Session Details:

Confidence in Action: Elevating Your Impact in the Events Industry

In an industry where shifting priorities, competing demands, and high expectations are constant, event professionals need the confidence to lead with clarity and drive results.

In this interactive presentation, participants will explore what strengthens—or gets in the way of—their confidence and apply practical strategies to own the value they bring, lead with greater confidence, and take action when it matters. Through guided reflection, discussion, and practical application, participants will leave with tools they can immediately use to show up with greater confidence and impact in their work.

Meet the Featured Voices

Senior Leader Panel

Session Title:

The Case for Gathering: What Makes an Event Worth the Investment?

Moderator:

Discover Dunwoody – Mark Galvin , Chief Marketing & Operating Officer

Panel:

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau – Charlene Lopez , Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Offices

Etherio – Christine Hilgert , Executive Vice President

U.S. Bank – Ambre Wade , CMP, Director, Experiential Marketing

Mark Galvin serves as Chief Marketing & Operating Officer for Discover Dunwoody , the official destination marketing organization (DMO) responsible for promoting tourism within the thriving city located just north of Atlanta. His decades of operations and sales experience across various hotel brands, including InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt Hotels, Marriott® Hotels, and Omni Hotels & Resorts, as well as several independent hotels and resorts, have well prepared him for this role. He began his hospitality career working in room operations, serving as front office manager and housekeeping director. Throughout his hospitality career, Galvin focused on developing leaders and salespeople, and on strategic vision.

In addition to his hospitality background, Galvin is a social media expert and hosts a podcast channel for Discover Dunwoody on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook, highlighting local leaders and developments in the community. Find that show on YouTube by searching for Discover Dunwoody.

Galvin is a member of Rotary International and was honored as the Rotarian of the Year in 2018 for the Rotary Club of Brookhaven and Rookie of the Year in 2024 with the Rotary Club of Dunwoody. He currently serves the Rotary Club of Dunwoody as President-Elect and Director of Public Image. In 2018, he received the “Emerging Business of the Year” award from the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce for ePresence, the company he founded. In 2023, Galvin was appointed to the board of directors and now serves as Vice President for Create Dunwoody, an arts and culture plan that seeks to support opportunities for placemaking and vibrant public spaces, enhance economic development, and improve overall quality of life for those who live, work, and play in Dunwoody. He is a 2024 graduate of Leadership Perimeter and remains engaged with the organization.

A Marist School graduate, Galvin attended Georgia State University and majored in Marketing. He also serves as the founder and chair of Synaxis, a Marist School initiative now in its 12 th year that brings together men in the community to build deeper bonds and explore their faith. In 2022, the Marist School Alumni Association recognized Galvin with their 2022 Father Hartnett Service Award.

Galvin resides in Tucker, Ga., with Stephanie, his wife of 35 years, and has three adult children. Be sure to ask him which book he is listening to on his library app, about his favorite technology, or about his thoughts on emerging AI and how he harnesses it.

EVP & Principal Experience Architect at Etherio , Christine Hilgert, CMP , focuses on fostering client success, creating meaningful ways to meet objectives, and achieving goals through the attendee journey. She works to ensure that we adapt to our clients’ changing needs, find new opportunities for innovation, and accelerate growth.

Christine has worked in the hospitality industry since her first job at a country club at age 15! She’s gained experience in various event management roles throughout her career, working in special events, banquets, and sporting event management prior to joining Etherio. Christine graduated from the Dedman College of Hospitality at Florida State University with a B.S. in Business Administration. She is involved with the Corporate Event Marketing Association and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events. Christine also serves on the Community Action Board of Los Angeles. You can often find her sharing her expertise at industry events or volunteering at Meals on Wheels and Adopt a Golden Atlanta.

Christine enjoys travel, paddle boarding, reading, and being outdoors on a sunny day. She loves to learn new things. For example, she earned her Water Sommelier certificate in 2020 and has been a Fencing referee!

As executive vice president and chief sales officer of Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) , Charlene Lopez oversees the bureau’s programs to increase visitation to Atlanta through meetings, events and conventions. Under Lopez’s leadership, ACVB’s sales team helps secure meetings and conventions of all sizes that contribute to the overall economy for the city of Atlanta.

Lopez serves on the boards of Atlanta Sports Council and Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI). She is a member of ASAE AMC Leaders advisory group, and her past leadership roles include service as chair of ASAE Industry Partner Alliance committee and on the PCMA Southeast

chapter board (2015-2020).

Lopez’s experience in hospitality spans nearly 20 years. She joined ACVB in June 2012 as sales manager, national accounts, focusing on association and corporate business. She was promoted to director, citywide sales in October 2019. Her career includes roles with Omni Hotel at CNN Center as director of sales,

associate director of sales at Hyatt Regency Atlanta and associate director of sales, sales manager and business travel manager at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa.

Lopez earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Texas A&M University and master’s degree in human resource development from Tarleton State University. Originally from San Antonio, she now resides in East Cobb with her husband Chris and they are proud parents of five children.

Ambre Wade, CMP, serves as Director of Experiential Marketing for Merchant Payment Services at U.S. Bank , where she develops strategic experiences that connect audiences, strengthen brand engagement, and advance business objectives. With nearly two decades of experience across experiential marketing, corporate events, live production, event technology, and consultative sales, Ambre brings a distinctive blend of creative vision, technical expertise, and commercial insight to her work.

Her unique background in production, technology, sales, and client service continues to shape her approach to experiential marketing. She combines a deep understanding of audience needs with disciplined project management, financial stewardship, and cross-functional collaboration to create experiences that are engaging, strategically aligned, and grounded in measurable business value.

Thank You to Our 2026 Annual Meeting Sponsors

VENUE SPONSOR

AV SPONSOR

VIRTUAL EVENT SPONSOR

EVENT FURNITURE SPONSOR